Animals (2026)

A mayoral campaign can drain a family's finances, reputation, and patience. In Animals, Ben Affleck's new thriller, it nearly costs a couple their child. When their son is snatched off the streets of Los Angeles, the ransom clock starts ticking immediately, and every hour forces the Kimballs closer to choices they never imagined making. The tagline says it plainly: power can't protect you.

The Premise: A Ransom Deadline With Nowhere to Turn

Mark Kimball, played by Ben Affleck, is running for mayor of Los Angeles, a bid that has consumed the family's savings and public image. His wife Abigail, played by Kerry Washington, stands beside a campaign built on polish and promise.

Then their son is kidnapped, and a ransom demand arrives with a brutal deadline. Most of their money is tied up in the race itself, so raising the payment means scraping through channels they would rather never touch, exposing corners of their lives they kept hidden for good reason.

The film runs a lean 106 minutes, an action-crime-drama hybrid built around one escalating night of decisions. The tension comes not from who took the boy but from what a respectable couple will do to get him back.

Cast and Performances to Watch

Affleck and Washington anchor the film as Mark and Abigail Kimball, a couple whose marriage strains under the weight of the ransom. Washington's role demands a mixture of composure and desperation, while Affleck plays a man learning that a political reputation buys him nothing at gunpoint.

Gillian Anderson appears as Dayle Burton, and Steven Yeun plays Sam Allison, both in roles that complicate the family's options. Ray Fisher turns up as Ron Sperling, with Adriana Paz as Cecilia Trujillo and Luis Gerardo Méndez as Ramon rounding out a supporting cast that keeps the pressure shifting.

The kidnapped boy, Denny Kimball, is played by Christopher Woodley, with Jacob Estrada as Hector and Taylor Cooper as Hannah filling out the ensemble.

Behind the Camera: Affleck Directs Himself

Affleck directs the film from a screenplay he wrote with Billy Ray and Connor O. McIntyre. It marks another entry in his dual role as filmmaker and lead actor, and he also produces alongside Matt Damon and Dani Bernfeld under Artists Equity.

Production companies Artists Equity, Makeready, and Fifth Season back the project, with executive producers Michael Joe, Kevin Halloran, and Dan Guando.

The technical crew carries serious pedigree. Robert Elswit, the Oscar-winning cinematographer known for his work on Los Angeles noir, handles photography. Editing comes from William Goldenberg and Christopher Rouse, and Harry Gregson-Williams scores the film. That combination suggests a polished, propulsive thriller rather than a slow-burn character study.

Themes, Tone, and Style

At its core, Animals is about the gap between a public image and a private ledger. A campaign sells ideals; a ransom demands cash and compromise. The film asks what remains of a person's principles once the people they love are on the line.

Tone-wise, expect a taut, city-at-night thriller. The Los Angeles setting and the mayoral election frame the abduction as a political crisis as much as a family one, and the genre blend of action, crime, drama, and thriller keeps the pace relentless rather than reflective.

The tagline, "Power can't protect you," doubles as the thesis. Money, influence, and connections prove fragile once a kidnapper sets terms.

Who Should Watch Animals

This one suits viewers who like kidnapping thrillers where the logistics of the ransom matter as much as the rescue. Fans of Affleck's directorial work, or of Washington's dramatic range, will find strong central performances to follow.

It also works for audiences drawn to political dramas with teeth, where campaign machinery becomes a liability instead of a shield. Viewers wanting a breezy watch should look elsewhere; the premise is stressful by design.

Where to Watch

In the US, Animals streams on Netflix, available on both the standard plan and the Netflix Standard with Ads tier. Availability may vary by region, so check your local catalog.

Similar Titles Worth Exploring

If Animals lands well, several films scratch the same itch. Kidnap-and-ransom thrillers set against urban backdrops offer comparable tension, and L.A.-set crime dramas that mix family stakes with civic corruption pair naturally with the political angle here.

Ben Affleck's earlier directing credits, particularly his crime dramas set among ordinary people pushed into corners, make a good companion watch, as do ensemble thrillers featuring Kerry Washington or Gillian Anderson in demanding dramatic roles.